A theoretical approach to substituent effects: Interaction between directly bonded groups in the isoelectronic series XNH3+, XCH3, and XBH3−

Ab initio molecular orbital theory including full geometry optimization at the 4-31G level is used to examine the interactions between substitutents X(X = Li, BeH, BH₂, CH₃, NH₂, OH and F) and substrates Y(Y = NH₃⁺, CH₃, BH₃^?) in the isoelectronic series XNH₃⁺, XCH₃ and XBH₃^?. The results indicate that the interaction energies are dominated by σ-effects. NH₃⁺ is found to interact favorably with the σ-donors (e.g. Li, BeH and BH₂) and unfavorably with the σ-acceptors (e.g. F, OH, NH₂). The reverse pattern a observed for XBH₃^?. The range of interaction energies for XCH₃ is considerably smaller than for XNH₃⁺ and XBH₃^?.     

A theoretical approach to substituent effects. Interactions between directly bonded groups in the neutrals X?NH2, X?OH,and X?F and the anions X?NH− and X?O−

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations have been carried out for the neutrals X? NH₂, X? OH, and X? F and the anions X? NH^? and X? O^? with substituents X = Li, BeH, BH₂, CH₃, NH₂, OH, and F. All structures have been fully optimized with the 4-31G basis set which is found to perform considerably better than the minimal STO-3G basis in predicting the lengths of strongly polar bonds. A quantitative analysis of interactions between the directly bonded groups, utilizing energy changes in hydrogenation reactions, is presented and rationalized with the aid of perturbation molecular orbital theory. Favorable interactions occur when electron-donor groups bond to electron-acceptor groups. This applies to both σ and π interactions, the relative importance of which depends on the particular substituents.     

Structures and stabilization energies of methyl anions with main group substituents from the first five periods

The effects of substituents (X) on the structures and stabilities of CH₂X^? anions for groups comprised of fourth- and fifth-period main group elements (X = K, CaH, GaH₂, GeH₃, AsH₂, SeH, Br, Rb, SrH, InH₂, SnH₃, SbH₂, TeH, and I) have been investigated by ab initio pseudopotential calculations. Full geometry optimizations have been carried out on the CH₂X^? anions and the corresponding neutral parent molecules, CH₃X, at HF/DZP + and MP2/DZP + levels. Results for substituents from the second (X = Li? F) and third (X = Na? Cl) periods provide comparisons of substituent effects of the main group elements of the first four rows of the periodic table on methyl anions. Frequency calculations characterize the nature of stationary points and show pyramidal CH₂X^? anion structures to be the most stable unless π acceptor interactions (e.g., with BH₂, AlH₂, GaH₂, and InH₂ favor planar geometries. The CH₂X^? stabilization energies [at QCISD(T)/DZP + /MP2/DZP + + ZPE level for X = K? I and QCISD(T)/6?31 + G*/MP2/6?31 + G* + ZPE level] for X = Li? Cl) also show strong π-stabilizing effects for the same substituents. With the exception of CH₃ and NH₂, all substituents stabilize methyl anions, although the σ stabilization by OH and F is small. The SiH₃? PH₂? SH? Cl, GeH₃? AsH₂? SeH? Br, and SnH₃? SbH₂? TeH? I sets of substituents give stabilization energies between 19 and 30 kcal/mol. The stability of methyl anions substituted by the halogens and the chalcogens (X = OH, SH, SeH, and TeH) increases down a group in accord with the increasing substituent polarizability, while for π acceptors (BH₂, AlH₂, GaH₂, and InH₂) the stability decreases down a group in line with their π-accepting ability. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Theoretical study of substituent effects on the acidity of the methyl group: Structure of anions CH2X−

Geometries have been optimized using molecular-orbital calculations (a) with a 4-31G Gaussian basis set for carbanions CH₂X^? where X = H, CH₃, NH₂, OH, F, C?CH, CH?CH₂, CHO, COCH₃, CN, and NO₂; and (b) with an STO -3G basis set for methyl acetate and acetyl deprotonated methyl acetate. All the carbanions containing unsaturated substituents are planar, with a considerable shortening of the C? X bond. Carbanions containing saturated substituents are pyramidal with the out-of-plane angle α increasing with the electronegativity of the substituent. Double-zeta basis set calculations give proton affinities over the range 449 (for CH₃CH₂^?) to 355 kcal/mol (for CH₂NO₂^?), with all unsaturated anions having smaller affinities than saturated anions. The correlation of proton affinities with 1s binding energies, and with charges on both the carbon of the anion and on the acidic proton of the neutral molecule are examined.     

The remarkably invariant interaction energies of lithium first-row compounds with water and with ammonia

Solvation energies of lithium first-row compounds LiX (X ? H, Li, BeH, BH₂, CH₃, NH₂, OH, F) and of the lithium cation with the model solvents, water and ammonia, have been calculated ab inito (MP2/6-31 + G^*//6-31G^* with zero-point vibrational energy corrections at 3-21G//3-21G). The solvation energies are found to be remarkably constant: ?18.0 ± 1.2 and ?21.5 ± 1.3 kcal/mol for the hydrates and ammonia solvates, respectively. This independence on the nature of X is due largely to the ionic character of the LiX compounds (dipole moments 4.7–6.6 debye). The unexpectedly high solvation energies of the lithium molecule (?14.3 and ?17.8 kcal/mol, respectively) are due to the polarizability of Li₂. At the same level, the lithium cation has interaction energies with H₂O and NH₃ of ?34.1 and ?39.7 kcal/mol, respectively. For the hydrates of LiOH and LiF cyclic structures with hydrogen bonds and somewhat increased solvation energies also are described.     

A theoretical investigation of α-substituents on the structure,proton affinities and inversion barriers of silyl anions

Geometries, optimised at the double-zeta level, are reported for silanes SiH₃X and silyl anions SiH₂X^? where X = H, BH₂, CH₃, NH₂, OH and F. The anions are pyramidal with larger out-of-plane angles than their carbanion analogues and inversion barriers are large, varying from 34.3 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ for X = H up to 57.3 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ when X = F. The silylborane anion is planar at both boron and silicon and has a Si-B bond length shorter by 0.15 than in silylborane. Silyl anions are more stable than methyl anions by between 55 and 66 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$.     

Substituent effects in second row molecules : Silicon-containing compounds

Substituent interaction energies are calculated by ab initio molecular orbital methods for the two series SiH₂X^- and SiH₃X for the directly bound substituents X = BH₂, CH₃, NH₂, OH, F and the results compared with those for the corresponding first row species. Interactions with the groups NH₂, OH, F are as large in the neutral as in the anionic series and this is attributed to the presence of important π-bonding interactions, supplementing the effects of inductive withdrawal of σ-electrons. The restoration of charge neutrality by π-donation to silicon is more important in the neutral molecules, σ-electron transfer from silicon in the anions. π-Bonding with the π-acceptor substitutent BH₂ is favourable, as it is in the CH₃X and CH₂X^- systems, but with π-donor substituents the interactions are always destabilizing.     

An ab initio molecular orbital study of the deprotonation of amines

The geometries of the amines NH₂X and amido anions NHX^?, where X = H, CH₃, NH₂, OH, F, C₂H, CHO, and CN have been optimized using ab initio molecular orbital calculations with a 4-31G basis set. The profiles to rotation about the N? X bonds in CH₃NH^?, NH₂NH^?, and HONH^? are very similar to those for the isoprotic and isoelectronic neutral compounds CH₃OH, NH₂OH, and HOOH. The amines with unsaturated bonds adjacent to the nitrogen atoms undergo considerable skeletal rearrangement on deprotonation such that most of the negative charge of the anion is on the substituent. The computed order of acidity for the amines NH₂X is X = CN > HCO > F ≈ C₂H > OH > NH₂ > CH₃ > H and for the reaction NHX^? + H⁺ → NH₂X the computed energies vary over the range 373–438 kcal/mol.     

A theoretical study of the condensation reactions of methyl cation with ammonia,water, hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen sulphide

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations have been used to study the condensation reactions of CH₃^? with NH₃, H₂O, HF and H₂S. Geometry optimization has been carried out at the Hartree—Fock (HF) level with the split-valence plus d-polarization 6-31G* basis set and improved relative energies obtained from calculations which employ the split-valence plus dp-polarization 6-31G** basis set with electron correlation incorporated via Moller—Plesset perturbation theory terminated at third order (MP3). Zero-point vibrational energies have also been determined and taken into account in deriving relative energies. The structures of the intermediates CH₃XH^? (X = NH₂, OH, F and SH) have been obtained and dissociation of these intermediates into CH₂X⁺ + H₂ on the one hand, and CH₃^? + HX on the other, has been examined. It is found that for those species for which the methyl condensation reaction is observed to have an appreciable rate (X = NH₂ and SH), the transition structure for hydrogen elimination from CH₃XH^? lies significantly lower in energy than the reactants CH₃^? + HX (by 75 and 70 kJ mol^?1 respectively). On the other hand, for those species for which the methyl condensation reaction is not observed (X = OH and F), the transition structure for H₂ elimination lies higher in energy than CH₃^? + HX (by 6 and 87 kJ mol^?1 respectively).     

Substituent effects in second row molecules : Sulfur(II) compounds

Substituent effects arising from directly bonded groups in sulfur-containing compounds are investigated by molecular orbital calculations of relative energies. Interaction energies, basicities and acidities are obtained from calculations at the supplemented 4–3 IG and 6–3 IG basis set levels for substitution in the three series of sulfur compounds SX^-, SHX, and SH₂X⁺ with X = BH₂, CH₃, NH₂, OH, F and in the bisubstituted series SX₂ (X = CH₃, F). Donor-acceptor interactions are dominated by the σ-electrons and readily account for the data; substitution by BH₂ is an exception, requiring consideration of π-bonding, especially in the anion. Charge transfer, both to and from the second row element, is better tolerated by the sulfur-containing systems than by the corresponding oxygen compounds.     

Integrated spatial electron populations in molecules: Application to simple molecules

The electron projection function P(x, z) = ∫ ρ(x, y, z) dy is used to evaluate charge transfer and covalency in two series of molecules, LiX and CH₃X (X = Li, BeH, BH₂, CH₃, NH₂, OH, and F), with wavefunctions derived from STO-3G, 4-31G, and, in some cases, 6-31* ab initio calculations. The precision of the method and comparison with Mulliken populations analysis are described. Particular attention is given to CH₃Li which by our criteria is wholly ionic.     

Relative stability of multiple bonds between germanium and arsenic. A theoretical study

Substituent effects on the potential energy surface of XGeAs (X=H, Li, Na, BeH, MgH, BH₂, AlH₂, CH₃, SiH₃, NH₂, PH₂, OH, SH, F, and Cl) were investigated by using B3LYP and CCSD(T) methods. The isomers include structures with formal double (GeAsX) and triple (XGeAs) bonds to germanium–arsenic, so a direct comparison of these types of species is possible. Our model calculations indicate that electropositively substituted GeAsX species are thermodynamically and kinetically more stable than their isomeric XGeAs molecules. Moreover, the theoretical findings suggest that F, OH, NH₂, and CH₃ substitution prefer to shift the double bond (GeAsX) by forming a triple bond (XGeAs).     

A theoretical approach to substituent effects: Stabilities and conformational preferences in β-substituted ethyl radicals

Ab initio molecular orbital theory is used to study substituent effects in a series of β-substituted Et radicals XCH₂CH₂. For X = BH₂ (plan.), CH₃, NH₂, OH and F, only slight conformational preferences and weak stabilizations are indicated. Such behaviour may be rationalized, using a PMO model, in terms of opposing changes, accompanying variation in X, in positive and negative hyperconjugation between the XCH₂ group and the CH₂ centre. On the other hand, for groups containing an appropriately oriented, low-lying vacant orbital, viz. X = Li, BeH and BH₂ (perp.), there is a pronounced preference for the perpendicular conformation of the radical. This is attributed to 1,3-interaction between the singly-occupied 2p(C) orbital and the vacant 2p(X) orbital.     

Jahn-teller effects in the MNDO approximation: structures of the molecular cations of some simple organoberyllium compounds

The MNDO method gives geometries for the molecular cations of organoberyllium compounds of types BeR₂ and HBeR (R = CH₃, CHCH₂, CCH, CN, C₅H₅), of C₄H₄Be and CH₃BeBeH₃ and of the series CH_4?n(BeH)_n (n = 0–4) which have symmetries in precise accord with the predictions of the Jahn-Teller theorem. In the series CH_4?n(BeH)_n and CH_4?n(BeH)_n⁺, the barriers to inversion via a planar intermediate decrease with increasing n, are significantly smaller for the cations than for the neutral molecules, and are zero for CH(BeH)₃⁺ and C(BeH)₄⁺, both of which have their minimum energy when strictly planar at carbon.     

Unusual crystal and molecular structure of tris(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium fluoride

According to the X-ray diffraction data, the crystal and molecular structure of tris(2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium fluoride (F^?N⁺H(CH₂CH₂OH)₃, fluoroprotatrane, substantially differs from other halo protatranes X^?N⁺H(CH₂CH₂OH)₃ (X = Cl, Br, and I). At X = F, to the endo-molecular LP of the nitrogen atom the HF molecule having the minimum ionic radius in a series of X^? anions is bonded. The geometry of fluoroprotatrane and the cation packing in the crystal are analyzed.     

Novel pentacoordinated bridged silicon anions

Both ab initio and semiempirical electronic structure calculations are used to investigate the molecular and electronic structures and eneregetic stabilities of an unusual bridged compound with the general formula [Y? SiH₃? X? SiH₃? Y]^?, with Y = H or F and X = H, CH₃, NH₂, OH, F, or Cl. Most of these bridged anions are quite stable relative to YSiH₃ + XSiH₃Y^?, and the stability is predicted to increase considerably when Y = H is replaced with Y = F.     

Theoretical examination of substituent effects on the stabilization of a Sn?Y (Y = Sb and Bi) multiple bond

The potential energy surface for the unimolecular rearrangement XSn?Y → TS → Sn?YX (Y = Sb, Bi) was investigated using the B3LYP and QCISD methods. To explore electronic effects on the relative stability of XSn?Y and Sn?YX, the first‐row substituents (X = H, Li, BeH, BH₂, CH₃, NH₂, OH, F) have been used. Our theoretical findings suggest that the doubly bonded Sn?YX species are always both kinetically and thermodynamically more stable than their corresponding triply bonded isomers, XSn?Y, regardless of the electronegativity of the substituent X. Nevertheless, our model calculations indicate that an aryl group can, if sufficiently bulky, stabilize triply bonded XSn?Y molecules with respect to both isomerization and polymerization. That is to say, it is not electronic but steric effects that play a dominant role in stabilizing both Sn?Sb and Sn?Bi triple bonds. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Relative Stability of Multiple Bonds between Germanium and Stibium. A Theoretical Study

Substituent effects on the potential energy surface of XGeSb (X=H, Li, Na, BeH, MgH, BH₂, AlH₂, CH₃, SiH₃, NH₂, PH₂, OH, SH, F, and Cl) were investigated by using B3LYP/Def2‐TZVP, B3PW91/Def2‐ TZVPP CCSD (T)//B3LYP/Def2‐TZVP methods. The isomers include structures with formal double (Ge=SbX) and triple (Xge=Sb) bonds to germanium‐stibium, so a direct comparison of these types of species is possible. Our model calculations indicate that electropositively substituted Ge=SbX species are thermodynamically and kinetically more stable than their isomeric Xge=Sb molecules. Moreover, the theoretical findings suggest that only the organic substitutions (such as CH₃) can make triply bonded Xge=Sb molecule more stable than the doubly bonded Ge=SbX species.     

Ab initio calculations of electron-spin magnetic moments for Li,Be and B hydrides inX 2∑+ states

Electron-spin magnetic moments, in the form ofg-shifts, have been computed at the ROHF level for theX ²∑⁺ states of LiH⁺, BeH²⁺, LiH^?, BeH and BH⁺. A perturbative approach, complete to second-order in appropriate Breit-Pauli operators, has been used. Retention of two-centre integrals has proven vital. First-order terms are important, especially in describing the negativeg _∥ shifts observed experimentally in²∑⁺ molecules. The relativistic mass correction dominates in first-order, except for LiH^? where the two-electron spin-Zeeman gauge correction supersedes. Second-order terms contribute negatively, and only to the Δg _⊥ component. Along the isoelectronic series LiH^? → BeH → BH⁺, the magnitude of Δg _⊥ increases due to the dependence of spin-orbit coupling on nuclear charge. The relation ofg-shifts to electronic structure and bonding is explored.     

Organic reactions at surfaces: A study of carnitine by secondary ion mass spectrometry

Carnitine inner salt, (CH₃)₃N⁺ CH₂CH(OH)CH₂COO^?, and carnitine hydrochloride, (CH₃)₃N⁺CH₂CH (OH)CH₂COOH Cl^?, in the solid state undergo ion-beam-induced intermolecular methyl transfer reactions as shown by (CH₃)₃N⁺ CH₂CH(OH)CH₂COOCH₃ ions at m/z 176 in their positive ion spectra. In the case of carnitine HCl, the product ion is three times as abundant as the intact cation. For the inner salt however, the product is less than one-tenth as abundant as [M + H] ⁺. In both cases, the reaction can be precluded by dissolution of the sample, supporting an intermolecular mechanism. The negative ion spectra for these compounds contain no [M ? CH₃]^? ions, suggesting that simple transmethylation does not occur. Rather it is proposed that the inner salt abstracts a methyl group from the intact carnitine cation to yield [M + CH₃]⁺ and a neutral species, the driving force being a minimization of the total number of charges desorbed into the gas phase. Thermodynamic data favor this mechanism as do data for other carnitine salts. The reaction appears to be inhibited when one reactant is present in excess. This is the case for carnitine HNO₃ and CH₃SO₃H, which tend to liberate the intact cation since the anions are large and polarizable. It is also the case for small, hard anions like fluoride, which appear to favor release of the inner salt, hence the cation at m/z 162 is of low abundance and the transmethylation product (m/z 176) is absent. The extent of the reaction is also dependent on the methods of preparation of the sample, and deposition of the salts from solution greatly reduces the extent of methyl transfer. [M ? CH₃]^? is observed when glycerol is used as a matrix, possibly due to a matrix-analyte methyl transfer reaction.